Friday, November 20, 2015

Snug BabyCam for Smartphones




I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to review this product. I was literally jumping up and down when I found out that I was chosen for this review. I anxiously awaited its delivery. And when the UPS man dropped it off I tore into the box like a wild beast. 

Yes, that's the type of Mom that I am. The thought of being able to spy on my sleeping child enthralls me. Creepy, I know. But secretly, you're right there with me. 

This baby monitor has so many amazing features! Let's jump right in. 

Easy Setup: Even you can do it. You literally just plug it into the wall (cord provided) and then plug it into your router (cord provided). If you don't know what your router is then ask any boy that has ever played a video game. They'll lead you right to it. Just don't show them your fancy new gadget or else they'll want to try it out first.




After you plug it in then be sure to download the app. You can either use the QR code on the box or you can search it in the Play Store. Just search "SnugCam." Once you're in the app, just follow the step-by-step instructions to connect the device and connect to your Wi-Fi. After that, just unplug and move it to your desired location, and you no longer need the phone jack looking cord. Just the power supply. 

BAM! Spy gear ready!

It can be set on any flat surface (away from water, not in the crib, etc.). Please use your brain when you choose your location. It even comes with a mount that you can use to attach it to the wall above the baby's crib. Just make sure that can't get to the cord or the camera. 




High Definition: The picture is actually really good quality. 720p. As long as you have a phone with good resolution then you should get a clear picture. 

Smartphone & Tablet Compatible: They claim that it works with ALL smartphones, tablets, computers, and laptops. I wasn't able to try this one out for myself, so have at it. Plus, the app is free. As it should be since you already bought the product.

Night Mode: I have no idea what this means on the box, "10 IR LEDs + light sensor for night vision up to 10 meters." All I know, is that it works in the dark.

Micro SD Card: If you wish to video record then you can. First, you have to get a Micro SD Card though. It can accommodate one up to 64GB.  It does not come with one. I thought it did. 

PTZ Control: It can pan 355 degrees, and it can tilt >90 degrees. You can see almost every inch of space in the room. It is kind of amazingly freaky. You can check for boogie monsters at any time. 
Audio and Motion Detection Alarms: Even if you do not have the program running you can set it to alarm you if it detects motion or sound. I need one of these to safeguard my candy stash!

All from your phone: You can check the camera at any time. As long as it is connected to your Wi'Fi and you have the app then you can check on your baby. If you have to go out of town and you want to make sure the hubby gets the baby to bed on time then you can totally check. (As long as you have service). You can make the camera point in whatever direction you desire with your phone. You just slide your finger across the screen and the camera moves itself. AMAZING! It is LIVE video!




The only downside.... I can't get mine to work. There is a green light that is constantly flashing. I read that there is a way I can manually take care of this myself. And the company says it's going to fix that bug for future machines. I set mine up as instructed, and I've tried trouble-shooting, and everything else, but it doesn't work. As long as it is plugged into the router it works perfectly! But as soon as I disconnect it and try moving it to another location, it stops. I have tried searching the app and the internet for a solution, but to no avail. 

I looked on Amazon and it seems like quite a few other customers are having the same issue. I know that it is an issue with the product and not with my Wi-Fi. We have many phones, consoles, computers, and such that are all able to use it just fine. There is an issue with the product, and once the bug is fixed then I'll be the happiest little Mom on the block. I LOVE this product. But I can only give it 3 stars until the problem is fixed. Once I can get to work with my Wi-Fi then it can have all my star love. Until then I'll just hook it up to the router and spy on my husband while he's gaming!




If you want to check it out for yourself, you can find it on Amazon, HERE
You can also check out the Snugtogether website to learn more about the baby monitor. This is also where you can find troubleshooting support. 


Thanks for reading this product review. I hope this helps in your purchasing decision. I received this product complimentary in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. These are my own opinions and experiences.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Vivree Kitchen Tongs




Have you ever tried to grab a chicken wing fresh out of the oven?


No???

Ok, then maybe that's just me. Let me tell you much it hurts!!! I'm always singeing my fingers. I have been married for five and a half years and we still haven't bought tongs. I know, I know... lame. Salads mean you have to use a fork and a thumb. Want to flip your bacon? That requires a spatula and a fork. Need to turn ALL of those Sweet Potato fries halfway through their cooking time? Ya, your going to have blisters.

Unless you are one of those smart human beings that actually put tongs on your wedding registry.... 

I received a set of tongs to try out and review from Vivree, and I am so thankful! I have been missing out on one of the most useful kitchen gadgets around. I have been using them for everything. Who would've known that cooking didn't require scorched fingers?!

The set comes with two separate tongs. One is 9" and the other is 12" long. I ordered the black set because the majority of my spatulas and spoons are black. Although, you can order the red pair if you're a little frisky and fun. 




They are made from FDA grade BPA-free silicone. No more worrying about scratching your nonstick cookware. The scalloped edges make it so those slippery sausages can't get away. They are heat resistant up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit. The last thing you want is for your tongs to become a nasty glaze on your Baked Apples a la Mode. 

The handles are sturdy and ergonomic. They come equipped with soft pads for a secure grip. They are made from 403 stainless steel, which I'm assuming is great! The tongs are dishwasher safe for you lucky devils that don't have to wash by hand. You can use these without fear of bending, breaking, or rusting. 




Plus, they come with a nifty locking mechanism that makes them easier to store. If you don't want them spread eagle and taking up half the bed... er umm (sorry that's my husband)... drawer then you simply pull the pin up and they stay clamped shut. Easy peasy. You can also use that little hook to hang them if you like.

Best of all, their 100% Guarantee is more like a 200% Guarantee. If anything happens during the entire LIFETIME of the product then they will refund your purchase and send a replacement set. Talk about No Risk!

I absolutely love my set!
If you would like some of your own then check them out on Amazon, HERE




I received this product complimentary in exchange for an honest and unbiased trial and review. These are my own opinions and experiences. 

Quick Stitch Sewing Kit


I need to start off with a disclaimer - I am not a seamstress. I am not a professional. I can barely sew at all. 

Ok, now that we have that out of the way let's get started. 

I have a desire to create. I have this deep down urge to get crafty. It's this little bone in me called Pinterest. It gets me every time. There are so many friggin' cute ideas on there. It gives me the DIY itch. Which can sometimes lead to disaster. 




This time it didn't. It just didn't turn out how I imagined. But it turned out wonderfully for a beginner. And my girls were absolutely thrilled with the results, which is all that matters. I had decided to make our Halloween costumes myself.  ...again.

Luckily, I had just been given the opportunity to review the Quick Stitch Sewing Kit. It was a lot better than I was expecting. It would be the perfect gift to give someone just learning to sew. If you have a preteen then you should definitely look into these. I wish I had spent my younger years learning to sew, knit, crochet, quilt, etc. It would be so beneficial now.




Even without skill, I dove into my project head first. I don't own a sewing machine so I started with the ruffles that needed to be hand-stitched. I used one of the needles from the kit and excitedly began my journey. It took longer than expected, but they turned out SO CUTE!

I had to use the needles once again when I attempted to make huge headband bows for both of my girls. The material was really thick and so I had to pull out the thimble to protect my fingers while pressing the needle through. I'm sure if anybody with any type of skill had been watching me the would've been cringing with horror. I'm pretty sure I was doing it wrong because I ended up breaking two needles. lol. They weren't poorly made, I just over-exerted them. I was wearing myself out just trying to push the needle through in some areas. Even though I didn't use proper technique they turned out perfect!




After all of the costumes were complete and the holiday was over I realized my jacket needed mending. I was panicked because it was actually my friends  peacoat jacket that she lent me. Shhhh! Don't tell her. The back of the armpit was completely torn out. I have no idea if it happened the night I wore it or if it was like that when she gave it to me. Nonetheless, I needed to either fix it or replace it.




I was quickly relieved when I realized I had a sewing kit that I could use to fix it. I ran and grabbed my Quick Stitch Sewing Kit and my phone. The phone was necessary because I had to YouTube a guide for a hidden stitch. This time I used the kit's thread and got to work. It only took me a couple of minutes and the coat was as good as new!




I really have loved this kit! It is so handy. It is perfect for all of those small mending projects. It comes with:

12 spools of thread
24 needles of various lengths
scissors (sharp tipped)
Seam ripper with cap
Needle threaders to help push the thread through the eye of the needle
5 ft tape measure
Straight pins (2)
Safety Pin
Thimble
Few Buttons
Carrying pouch





If you want a sewing kit that's perfect for the car, traveling. your purse, emergencies, or as a gift then this one is perfect. You can find it on Amazon, HERE. It qualifies for free two-day shipping for Prime Members. I received a discount for my kit in exchange for this honest and unbiased trial and review. These are my own opinions and experiences. I hope you enjoyed this post! Maybe even enough to attempt your own project.  ;)

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Gurin Rechargeable Water Flosser


This was my first time using a water flosser. Both of my parents have one, but I never asked them about theirs. I see them taking up half of their counter space every time I go over. And I've noticed that they are always occupying one of the outlets. I never looked into purchasing one for myself because I've always been a little skeptical. Can water really work as well as floss?

I have to floss my teeth every night. My family has horrible teeth. It just runs in our genes. I brush, I floss, I mouthwash, but I still get cavities. How????!!!! I don't drink coffee. I don't eat lemons. And I drink tons of water. I don't get it. Needless to say, my oral hygiene routine is frustrating, time-consuming, and relentless.

I hate flossing. I absolutely loathe getting ready for bed mostly due to this simple task. And it doesn't help that I have two permanent retainers. I have one on top that is connected to four separate teeth, and one on bottom that is connected to two teeth, but spans four teeth. Every night I have to thread my flosser and wind my way through each bracket. If you have never attempted this then you have no idea what tedious means. Even the hygienist at the dentist office hates doing them. It used to take me fifteen minutes or more each night to floss. After years of bloody gums and bent flossers I have finally mastered the art, but I still hate it.




That is why I was kind of intrigued by the idea of using water to floss. No pesky string to fight. No more running out of floss or flossers. As long as it is charged and you have water available then you can easily floss. I honestly did not think that water could remove gunk stuck in between the teeth though.

Setting up the Gurin Professional Rechargeable Flosser was way easier than I expected. However, it does take 8 hours to charge. Plug it in as soon as you get it. And if you notice the battery light blinking then be sure to plug it in pronto. There are two different ways that you can fill the water tank. Both are very easy, it just comes down to preference. You can either lift the flap and run a small stream of water into the tank or you can remove the entire tank and fill it. I use an entire tank of water each time I floss. The tank has a capacity of 16.9 ounces. Any smaller and I would have to refill it twice.

I also make sure to leave the water tank open so that air can circulate. I don'twant moisture stuck inside that can cause mildew or mold. The tank is also BPA free which is comforting. I don't have to worry about harmful chemicals leaching into my water. It is even FDA approved. 

When I read the instructions, it said to leave the mouth slightly open. For people like me they should have worded it "mostly closed." I ended up soaking my mouth, face, mirror, and three walls. Lesson learned. Just leave a small hole between your lips for water to pour out. And lean over the sink! My second attempt was pure success. It's not that hard to get the hang of. 

And don't be afraid of it. Be sure to try all three modes. See what works best for you. My gums are pretty sensitive. With each pregnancy my gums recede more and more. Depending on what I've eaten determines if I use Normal, Soft, or Pulse.




Flossing is so fast and easy now. I no longer dread it. Even on the nights when I'm completely exhausted and ready to pass out I can find the time and energy to floss. I don't know why I didn't get one of these sooner. It's probably going to give me healthier teeth and gums and hours to sleep. 

It comes with two differently colored heads. One for you and one for the person you kiss goodnight. Just don't give it to your kids. That's an epic water war waiting to happen. 

Did I mention how compact it is? It takes up less counter space than my mouthwash. You can even keep it in the cupboard if you remove the flossing nozzle. And if you're not charging it then you still have all of your outlets accessible. I just store the cord in the drawer when it's not in use.




If you hate flossing then you definitely need to try a water flosser! It changes everything. I got mine from Amazon which offers free shipping for Prime Members. I purchased mine at a discount in exchange for an honest and unbiased trial and review.

If you would like to check them out, you can find them HERE.

Have fun flossing!!!